Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers: 4 Reasons They Scare the Pack

The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles had antithetical 2011 free-agency approaches, with the Eagles culling a panoply of the best beefcakes, such as cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and defensive end Jason Babin, and even poaching defensive end Cullen Jenkins from the dormant Super Bowl champion Packers—whose own comparative complacence is not only scary, but could ultimately derail their chances to repeat. 

The Eagles' lockout cupidity was evinced when they secured some of the market's hottest commodities, auspiciously aggrandizing a roster that was already considered elite.   They appeared intent on proffering everyone a new contract, even re-upping the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, the Packers’ offseason inertia could eventually prove problematic, flouting growing areas of concern on their own roster, such as an ostensibly strong, yet senescent and suspect WR corps.

Packer fans seem insouciant and content with their championship roster—understandably so.  But, Ted Thompson apparently spent the summer leveling up his WOW character, rather than proactively addressing our incipient issues.

(Although, there's still time to cajole Randy Moss into suiting up...just saying.)

Because, while the Eagles' revamped roster poses a problem for each of its upcoming opponents, it bedevils the Super Bowl Champion Packers the most, despite not even appearing on each others' 2011 schedules.  

The specific combination of players that the Eagles acquired, compounded with whom the Packers lost, presents multiple matchup issues for the reigning champions; problems that either did not exist, and/or were not as pressing, during their previous meetings.

Of course, a lot of things need to happen, first, in order for this hypothetically cataclysmic game to even occur. Nonetheless, assuming these two NFC powerhouses do eventually seek each other out in the 2011-12 playoffs, here are four very real reasons why the Packers may be in a precarious position if pitted against the new-look Eagles...

QB Michael Vick Will Face Less Pressure: Eagles Add Cullen Jenkins, Ryan Harris

Packer defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, capitalized on Green Bay's glut of defensive pass-rusher—led by Clay Matthews, Cullen Jenkins and B.J. Raji—to summon blitz packages that virulently victimized Vick and other quarterbacks in 2010.  

The Pack accomplished this by coupling a talented defensive line with an elite linebacker corps, while relying on a stout secondary to allow their playmakers the necessary freedom to optimize their unique skill-sets.  This resulted in the team leading the NFC in both sacks (47) and interceptions (24).

Additionally, Green Bay's ability to effectively do so against the Eagles proved instrumental in advancing past them in the wild-card game, as Vick was sacked three times and was routinely harassed throughout the game.

However, the Packers lost a key component to that defensive force, failing/neglecting to re-sign Cullen Jenkins; instead, watching Philly vulture him from us. Jenkins' projected replacement is 2010 second-rounder Mike Neal, who's been hampered by injuries throughout his short career.

The Eagles also buttressed their offensive line by adding three offensive linemen, including the very talented RT Ryan Harris. Harris will line up opposite of LT Jason Peters—who surrendered a niggardly two sacks last season—forming an impregnable bulwark that will ensure Vick is snug as a bug, behind it.

Losing Jenkins allows the vastly improved Eagles' blockers to focus more on Clay Matthews, whose application of pressure proved especially vital against Vick.  

In their playoff matchup, the Packers sent five or more players 18 times against the Eagles; but, on half of those plays, Matthews abstained from rushing. When this was the case, Vick completed 66 percent of his passes for 116 yards and avoided getting sacked.  

However, when Matthews joined his rushing cohorts, Vick was far less effective: he went 1-5 passing for 28 yards and was sacked, twice—once, by Matthews.

But, considering that Packer linebackers are already preoccupied with spying and containing Vick, while also accounting for the excellent pass-catching running back, LeSean McCoy, their new, Jenkins-less defensive line may not be capable of wreaking enough mayhem by themselves to allow Matthews and friends similar freedom to operate. 

Ultimately, the Packers losing Cullen Jenkins and the Eagles adding offensive linemen like Ryan Harris combine to ballast Philly's O-line while potentially attenuating a pass rush that Green Bay relied so heavily upon, especially against their Philly foe.

Revamped Eagle D-Line: Aaron Rodgers Faces Babin, Cole and Jenkins

Aaron Rodgers' offensive line was able to effectively ward off Eagle defenders last January, even managing to open holes for relatively unknown RB James Starks to navigate through, en route to a breakout 123-yard game, which helped keep the notoriously blitz-happy Eagles at bay.

Although Rodgers was still sacked twice and only threw for 180 yards, the Eagle defensive line was unable to snooker the immaculate QB, as Rodgers' efficacy remained steadfast: he threw for three touchdowns and zero interceptions, which proved to be enough.

This year, the Eagles trot out a treacherous triumvirate in the trenches, consisting of Jason Babin, Trent Cole and Cullen Jenkins.  Three prolific pass-rushers who combined for 29 sacks in 2010, a number which is likely to increase this year as each one commands enough individual attention that opposing teams won't be able to double-team them.

Additionally, Eagle defensive tackle Antonio Dixon is stellar against the run, completing a concoction of D-linemen that places the Packer blockers in a seemingly untenable position.

If the Packers have difficulty establishing the run, as was so often the case last year, it will necessitate perfection from Rodgers while enduring perpetual duress.

Unfortunately, because the Packers obstinately neglected to address any potential areas of concern in the offseason (wide receiver, wide receiver, wide receiver), perfection may prove more difficult for Rodgers to achieve.

Ryan Grant; James Starks Have to Exploit Eagles' Weakness: Linebackers

The Eagle linebacker position is like the Miami Heat point guard position: both induce onlookers to contemplate whether they are also qualified to play professional sports.

If the Eagles were a dangerous, intimidating, recently-constructed space station that was seemingly indestructible, the linebackers would be represented by a small thermal exhaust port on it, which led directly to the reactor system...(Eh? EH!?!)

Point being, the linebackers are the only glaring weakness on the Philadelphia impressive roster; however, in order to effectively exploit them, a strong run game is a prerequisite.  And, despite returning a surgically-reconstructed Ryan Grant and James Starks, most honest Packer fans will concede that the position remains a question mark.

Tight end Jermichael Finely will certainly play a major role in attacking Philadelphia's’s innocuous group, but if the Packers running backs fail to take advantage of this propitious weakness, then it leaves little room elsewhere to attack.   

Eagles' Jamar Chaney is solid at OLB, and might be able to even somewhat keep Finley in check...somewhat.  After Chaney, the drop-off is precipitous...

Fourth-round fledgling, Casey Matthews, is slated to start at middle linebacker.  Adjacent to him is the abjectly incompetent Moise Fokou at weakside LB, whose paucity of production and potential have posed more problems than the pronunciation of his name, which defies orthography.

Notwithstanding, if the Green Bay backfield doesn’t adequately capitalize on them, Rodgers will once again be obligated to assume the entire offensive burden.  This time, though, his receivers will be blanketed by an unfamiliar trio of cornerbacks: Nnam-bombdotcom-di Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.  

Rodgers will see the Eagles’ sexy secondary secluding Packer receivers from their star quarterback. In turn, this will necessitate a level of quarterback play exceeding even that of last year's.

Packer Special Team Problems: Eagles' DeSean Jackson Does Work

Eagle wide receiver/returner DeSean Jackson only returned one punt—albeit, for 14 yards—against the Packers due to a knee injury that hobbled him throughout the game.

The explosive Jackson ranked seventh in the NFL in punt returns, averaging 11.6 yards and is constantly a threat to take it to the house, regardless of how well-executed the coverage may be—as any Giants fan can attest to.  

The Packers, conveniently, struggled with special teams all year, punctuated when a New England Patriots lineman decided to try his hand at kick returning.  Dan Connolly unleashed his god-given 7.4 speed to briskly sneak through what appears to be hermetic coverage.   He galloped 71 yards down the field until succumbing to enervation.  

In the video accompanying this slide, slow motion will reveal that, what initially appears to be a blur, is actually Connolly gliding past gold and white jerseys.

I digress... 

Point being, the Packers were the ninth-worst special teams unit in 2010, giving up 11 yards per punt return.  The fact that they didn't have to face Jackson—especially a healthy Jackson—for the entire game was a blessing.  

And, yes, every team compiles unfortunate injuries. Understood.  But that still doesn't negate the fact that, assuming Jackson is healthy come their presumed playoff matchup, the Packers vulnerability in this area could be exacerbated by the playmaking Jackson.

Of course, Jackson is no Dan Connolly; but, then again, who is? 

I Hate the Eagles...

4th-and-26 will forever haunt me.  I abhor the Eagles with every fiber of my Wii-Fitt constructed body. The only good thing that has ever come out of Philadelphia is the gang of Charlie, Dennis, Mac and Sweet Dee.

So, despite however much you might not want to believe that this article was penned by one of your own cheesehead brethren, it was.  And, due to the two teams' disparate off seasons, these threats do actually exist.

If you think I'm wrong, and maintain the evidence to disabuse my arguments, then by all means, assuage my fears...